EU – Baltic States, Legislation, Lithuania, Markets and Companies, Medicine

According to Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, the progressive approach towards healthcare was a distinctive trait of the Conference: "Leading healthcare policy makers throughout the Conference adhered to the notion that health impacts everything and everything impacts health. During the Presidency, we have methodically advocated the 'Health in all policies' approach. Our consistency is bearing fruit: we see a change in the course of EU health politics".

The new course of the EU health policy has been embedded in Vilnius Declaration – a list of steps that are, according to the delegates, essential in creating sustainable healthcare systems and ensuring medical access and quality for all EU citizens. The Declaration was drafted and signed by the participants during the Conference.

Commissioner Tony Borg named the Vilnius Declaration a victory and emphasised the necessity of the steps listed: "Existing EU health care systems can be sustainable – if reformed properly. Otherwise, health crisis is inevitable". Vilnius Declaration was signed by participants of the Conference who pledged to follow the outlined guidelines and encourage national governments to implement the principles of the Declaration.

The Sustainable Health Systems for Inclusive Growth in Europe conference was attended by prominent politicians, leaders of non-governmental organizations, highly skilled medics: Raisa Bohatyrova, Minister of Health of Ukraine; Clemens Martin Auer, Director General, Federal Ministry of Health of Austria; Monika Kosinska, Secretary General, European Public Health Alliance; Hans Kluge, Director, Division of Health Systems and Public Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe; Anders Olauson, President, European Patient Forum and many others. The conference was closed by Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Minister of Health of the Republic of Lithuania and it was chaired by Prof. Vilius Grabauskas, President, Health Forum; Chancellor, Medical Academy, LUHS (Lithuania).